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One of my favorites plants at Christmas time is the Amaryllis. They are a fascinating house plant because they don’t typically come “already done.” Instead of a beautiful, fully colored mature plant that stays the same until it wanes, Amaryllis provides a show from start to finish. Bulbs are generally purchased already planted in a pot or as bare bulbs with or without soil and a pot to plant it in. Simply adds water and it grows. The flower stalk rises tall and straight and within a short time, the single bud on top opens to reveal not one, but several flowers. Some bulbs may have two stalks. The lily-like blooms range from six to 10 inches in diameter and tower above the foliage and make a spectacular show for drab winter weather. The larger the bulb, the larger and more flowers there will be so do not skimp on quality. Plant the bulbs in a pot large enough to allow roots to grow and to hold adequate moisture. That means there should be an inch or two of soil between the bulb and the rim of the pot. Use soil that is very light and well drained so the bulb will not sit in soggy soil. Many commercial mixes are too heavy for this purpose and should be mixed with equal parts sand or perlite. If you want to start from scratch, use one part peat moss, one part vermiculite and one part perlite. Plant the bulb at the soil surface so that the top portion of the bulb shows above the soil line. Water thoroughly enough to settle the soil and anchor the bulb, but do not let the bulb sit in soggy soil. Water as the soil dries out, but do not leave the plant sitting in water. Professional growers use heating mats and coils beneath the plants to warm the roots while keeping the air temperatures at 70 to 75 degrees. At home, place the plant in a warm place to stimulate growth. Sunshine is not necessary to grow an amaryllis but if they do not have enough light or the temperatures are too warm the stalk elongates too quickly and tips over and dies. After the flower stalk gets about six inches long, move the plant to a lightly shaded location where the air is not too dry. High light intensity minimizes stalk growth. While growth is enhanced with higher temperatures, move the plant to a cooler place when the buds form and flowers open. The beauty of the flowers persists longer if the temperature is 60 to 65 degrees. Keep the plant away from direct heat and strong light. The colors almost challenge the imagination — white, with streaks of red, various shades of red, orange, and in some cases, yellow. They can be named hybrids or simply unnamed seedlings, sold by the flower color. The colors range from delicate pinks and even stripes to flamboyant reds and oranges.
